IJIRST –International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology| Volume 3 | Issue 11 | April 2017

ISSN (online): 2349-6010

Development of Automatic Hand Brake System

Gokul Gopan Gopikrishnan EJ
B. Tech. UG Student B. Tech. UG Student
Department of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering
Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam-686532, Kerala, Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam-686532, Kerala,
India India

Gritto Joseph Cherian Jacob Shibu Samuel

B. Tech. UG Student B. Tech. UG Student
Department of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering
Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam-686532, Kerala, Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam-686532, Kerala,
India India

Sreejith R
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam-686532, Kerala, India

Abstract
Hand brake is one of the most important component in vehicles. Conventional handbrake system works using a ratchet locking
mechanism that will keep it engaged until a release button is pressed. Driver error can lead to accidents in which handbrake is
not engaged. To overcome this, an Automatic Hand Brake engaging and disengaging system is proposed. The hand brake
engagement and disengagement is done using a combination of rack & pinion arrangement and microcontroller. The
microcontroller process signals from ignition switch which checks whether the ignition is ON or OFF, and in-turn checks the
gear lever to see whether the gear is in neutral position and also checks the signal from proximity sensor to sense if the wheel is
in motion. If all the conditions are satisfied, a signal is given to the motor. As the motor rotates the pinion, it causes the rack to
move linearly causing the engagement of handbrake. On turning the ignition on and engaging the gear lever a spring attached to
handbrake automatically disengages the handbrake.
Keywords: rack and pinion, handbrake, proximity sensor, safety, automobile
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION

Hand brake is one of the most important and unavoidable components in an automobile. The most common use for an
automobile hand brake is to keep the vehicle motionless when it is parked. Conventional Automobile hand brakes have a ratchet
locking mechanism that will keep them engaged until a release button is pressed. When the handbrake is applying the brake
cable passes through an intermediate lever, to increase the force of your pull; this force is then split evenly between your brakes
by an equalizer. Typically, a mechanical lever is added to the existing drum brakes on the car. The major problem faced by the
conventional handbrake is that if the driver does not engage the handbrake, before leaving the vehicle, there is a chance for the
vehicle to move uncontrollably. Another problem faced by handbrake is driving with handbrake engaged. This will overheat
your parking brake prematurely wearing the brake parts or shoes, and possibly lock up your wheels

II. PROPOSED SYSTEM

To develop an automatic handbrake for engaging and disengaging handbrake automatically. This also act as a park assist thus
reduce the driver error. Proposed to be done with the help of proximity sensor and rack & pinion. By automating the handbrake,
it reduces the chance for the driver drive the vehicle with handbrake engaged. This will increase the life of brake pads and shoes.
This also help in engaging the handbrake automatically thus reduce the accidents caused by rolling of vehicle when parked.
Relevance of Topic
Most accidents occurring nowadays are mainly due to the carelessness of drivers. The new design focuses on preventing careless
accidents caused by improper engaging and disengaging the hand brake. The system can be employed in existing cars and
upcoming cars. This design also acts as park assist. This system can ensure safety for the passengers as well as pedestrians thus
ensuring road safety.

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 Development of Automatic Hand Brake System
(IJIRST/ Volume 3 / Issue 11/ 058)

Components
The automatic hand brake is consisting of the following components.
 Rack and pinion
 Motor
 Pulley
 Spring
 Proximity sensor
 Microcontroller
All the components are assembled together to the main frame. The assembled model is as shown in the fig 1.

Fig. 1: Assembled model

Rack & Pinion

A rack and pinion as shown in fig 2 is a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. Rotational motion
applied to the pinion will cause the rack to move to the side, up to the limit of its travel. The pinion is in mesh with a rack. The
circular motion of the pinion is transferred into the linear rack movement.
A rack is a toothed bar or rod that can be thought of as a sector gear with an infinitely large radius of curvature. When the
given conditions as shown in table 1, get satisfied motor rotates causing pinion to rotate, giving a torque. Torque can be
converted to linear force by meshing a rack with a pinion, the pinion turns; the rack moves in a straight line. Linear actuation is
used to engage the brake with help of pinion, pulley and rope.

Fig. 2: Rack and pinion

Motor
An electric motor as shown in fig 3 is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Fig. 3: Motor

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 Development of Automatic Hand Brake System
(IJIRST/ Volume 3 / Issue 11/ 058)

Development of automatic handbrake system is designed as shown in the fig 8. The design consists of a rack and pinion,
pulley, spring and rope. The working of proposed design can be explained as follows. A rack is a toothed bar or rod that can be
thought of as a sector gear with an infinitely large radius of curvature. When the given conditions as shown in table 1, get
satisfied motor rotates causing pinion to rotate, giving a torque. Torque can be converted to linear force by meshing a rack with a
pinion, the pinion turns; the rack moves in a straight line. Linear actuation is used to engage the brake with help of pinion, pulley
and rope.
Microcontroller
A microcontroller (or MCU for microcontroller unit) as shown in fig 4 is a small computer on a single integrated circuit. In
modern terminology, it is a System on a chip or SoC. Microcontroller receives signal from proximity sensor, ignition switch and
gear lever and gives output signal based on the conditions in table 1. Microcontroller gives signal to motor. Motor operates based
on the signal from microcontroller.

.
Fig. 4: AT mega microcontroller

Proximity Sensor
A Proximity sensor as shown in fig 5 can detect objects without physical contact. A proximity sensor often emits an
electromagnetic field or beam and look for changes in the field. The object being sensed is often referred to as the proximity
sensor's target. Different proximity sensor targets demand different sensors.. Proximity sensor sense whether the wheel is in
motion. The signal from proximity sensor is passed to microcontroller.

Fig. 5: Proximity sensor

Spring
A spring is a flexible elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made from hardened steel. They are
made of an elastic material formed into the shape of a helix which returns to its natural length when unloaded this is called return
spring. Spring is connected between chassis and brake. Disengagement is done by spring tension as shown in fig 6.

Fig. 6: spring

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 Development of Automatic Hand Brake System
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Pulley & Rope

A pulley as shown in fig 7 is a wheel on an axle or shaft that is designed to support movement and change of direction of a taut
cable, supporting shell is referred to as a "block."

Fig. 7: pulley

III. WORKING

Development of automatic handbrake system is designed as shown in the fig 8. The design consists of a rack and pinion, pulley,
spring and rope. The working of proposed design can be explained as follows. A rack is a toothed bar or rod that can be thought
of as a sector gear with an infinitely large radius of curvature. When the given conditions as shown in table 1, get satisfied motor
rotates causing pinion to rotate, giving a torque. Torque can be converted to linear force by meshing a rack with a pinion, the
pinion turns; the rack moves in a straight line. Linear actuation is used to engage the brake with help of pinion, pulley and rope.
Disengagement is done by spring tension.

Fig. 8: Design of automatic handbrake

Table – 1
Condition
WHEEL GEAR IGNITION HANDBRAKE
REST NEUTRAL ON/OFF ENGAGE
RUNNING NEUTRAL ON DISENGAGE
REST ON GEAR ON DISENGAGE
REST NEUTRAL OR ON GEAR OFF ENGAGE

IV. CONCLUSION

In our project, brake while parking is actuated with the help of rack and pinion and proximity sensor based on a set of conditions.
Sensors sense and provides signal to the circuit board which directly drives the motor. The rack and pinion gets activated and
engages brake and disengagement is done by spring tension. Automatic hand brake can be used in all types of automobiles at low
cost.
An automatic handbrake has been developed for engaging and disengaging handbrake automatically. This also acts as a park
assist thus reduce the driver error. The work is done with the help of proximity sensor and rack & pinion. By automating the

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 Development of Automatic Hand Brake System
(IJIRST/ Volume 3 / Issue 11/ 058)

handbrake, it reduces the chance for the driver to drive the vehicle with handbrake engaged. This will increase the life of brake
pads and shoes. This also help in engaging the handbrake automatically thus reduce the accidents caused by rolling of vehicle
when parked.

V. REFERENCES
[1] Thomas, W., 0000. BIRCH. Automotive braking system, Delmar publishers Nelson ITP
[2] “Optimization of the composing part of hand brake mechanism” by S. Economic, a Co-operating with E. Saric.
[3] “The 8051 microcontroller and embedded systems” by Muhammad Ali Mazidi, Janice Gillispice Mazidi and Rolin D. Mckinlay.

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